PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles attorneys Stephanie Hyatt and Elizabeth Dunne will discuss interactions with law enforcement in a Wednesday presentation of “Know Your Rights.”
The talk will begin at 6 p.m. in the Raymond Carver Room at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.
The presentation will “provide practical insight to people when interacting with law enforcement, while challenging you to stand up to actions that threaten your constitutional rights,” according to a description.
“Criminal defense attorney Stephanie Hyatt will cover the nuts and bolts of what you need to know — whether pulled over while driving or expressing yourself on a downtown sidewalk,” the announcement said.
“Environmental and civil rights attorney Elizabeth Dunne will provide a broader context challenging you to think about how interactions between activists and law enforcement shape our society,” the announcement continued.
“In addition to helping you safeguard your constitutional rights, the presentation will touch on the rapidly emerging rights of nature movement.”
Dunne said the presentation was inspired by the arrest of Devon Gray.
Gray was arrested in Lions Park on the morning of Jan. 3 while protesting the felling of a mature sequoia tree that stood in Port Angeles for 42 years.
Gray and Dunne are members of Save Our Sequoia, a community group that fought with city officials over the controversial decision to cut the 110-foot-tall redwood they named Hope.
A city crew fell the sequoia without notice at about 7:30 a.m. Jan. 3. Gray was arrested by Officer Joshua Powless a short time later.
Gray, 64, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor counts of second-degree criminal trespass and obstructing a law enforcement officer in connection with the incident.
Save Our Sequoia maintains there were no signs to indicate the park was closed.
Powless said in court papers that he warned Gray multiple times that she would be arrested if she did not comply.
Gray awaits a trial in Clallam County District Court. Her trial date is yet to be determined.
A District Court judge prohibited Gray from entering Lions Park as part of her conditions of release.
Jasmine Hunt told the Port Angeles City Council on Tuesday that her roommate and business partner had experienced “ongoing detrimental health effects from her arrest.”
“(Gray) says she no longer feels safe here where your police are so ready to assault a senior citizen/grandmother,” Hunt said.
A video of Gray’s arrest was posted to YouTube, youtube.com watch?v=dlOSLYXvWy4.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
